‘WIZARD OF OZ’ INSPIRED MAKEOVER FOR LIVERPOOL’S LGBT QUARTER

The heart of Liverpool’s LGBT quarter is about to undergo a dramatic transformation.

As part of a major makeover, Eberle Street will be revamped with a unique paving and lighting scheme that will pay homage to the mythical Emerald City, Yellow Brick Road and Judy Garland.

The works, funded by Liverpool BID Company and Liverpool City Council, represent the biggest investment in the city’s LGBT ‘Stanley Street Quarter’ for a decade.

To begin early January, the aim of the innovative renovation is to celebrate the city’s LGBT heritage and community with the designs also inspired by the rich cultural history of businesses in the area such as the Artist Club, Gbar and Garlands.

The current footway material of tarmac, with concrete kerbing, will make way for a levelled street featuring contemporary paving consisting of high quality stone which works sympathetically with the existing buildings.

As an important part of Liverpool’s vibrant night life, the stunning lighting scheme will be suspended 20 feet above Eberle Street featuring bespoke LED fixtures.

To be completed in April, it is hoped Eberle street, which lies just 300 metres from the ‘Beatles mecca’ of Mathew Street and 150 metres from Liverpool Town Hall, will become an additional tourist attraction for the city.

The project is a creative collaboration between Liverpool BID Company, the City Council, Liverpool based award winning designers BCA Landscape, Amey and numerous stakeholders from Eberle Street.

Councillor Malcolm Kennedy, cabinet member for regeneration and transport, said:“These works will give a unique look to Eberle Street in keeping with it being at the heart of the LGBT quarter.

‘’This is part of the city centre which is thriving and attracts many visitors and its transformation will make it an even greater attraction. Local businesses have been closely involved in the design process and are helping make this a very exciting scheme.”

The Eberle Street scheme is part of a £1.4m programme to improve walking connections north-south between the Commercial District and the retail core of the city centre.

The Commercial District BID has invested £900k in the two-year programme, raised via a BID levy on businesses, with the remainder funded by the City Council. This has led to the renovation of several key streets with improved footways and kerbs, road resurfacing, tree planting, street lighting and rationalising street furniture. Improvements to footways and lighting on nearby North John Street will also begin at the same time as Eberle Street.

Jim Gill, Chairman of the Commercial District BID, which represents more than 850 businesses, said: ‘’Eberle Street is a hub of Liverpool’s night time economy and LGBT community so its redesign required an imaginative approach that had the verve and style to celebrate its unique position and elevate it to a prominence it richly deserves.

‘’Once complete it will also greatly enhance the experience of this part of the Commercial District and promote the north-south walking routes between the district and the rest of the city centre.

‘‘As the nation recently saw with Granby Street’s Turner Prize winning transformation, meaningful regeneration has to be led by those who live and work in that area and the input from the business community has been a key part of the entire process.’’

Andrew Pankhurst, manager of G-Bar, said: ‘’Eberle’s regeneration is one of the most exciting and important changes in the area that we have seen since we opened on this street.

‘’This side of Liverpool’s nightlife has the most diverse and safest environment in the city so this investment is extremely welcome and once completed the additional footfall will no doubt improve other surrounding businesses.

’’Both ourselves, Garlands and other businesses have been involved extensively in the decision making process and were asked throughout by the BID, Amey and BCA what we would like to see incorporated into the new designs. Because of this meaningful style of consultation the final design gives the street a very new and personal feel.’’

Andi Herring,Chair of Stanley Street Quarter CIC, said: “The transformation that is going to take place on Eberle Street is a great example of how being part of a wider organisation looking beyond the front doors of businesses benefits the whole community – whether that’s the businesses, residents or the LGBT Community everyone is set to benefit from these works.

‘’Stakeholders have had the chance to shape an end result that is really going to create something special for the city and help grow the Stanley Street Quarter’s reputation as a world-class destination.”

The Commercial District public realm upgrade is part of a wider four year programme of works, which includes a new city centre ‘connectivity’ scheme including new and improved signage and lighting, dedicated coach parking, more priority for pedestrians and cyclists and a review of bus routes to reduce delays (to be delivered from 2017-2019).